William Bligh a stormy story of tempestuous times by Bern Emmerichs Written by Michael Sedunary Artwork BERBAY PUBLISHING
Our story starts on Australia Day 1808. Actually Australia Day hadn't been invented then nor had Australia really But we are going back to 26 January 1808 and we are in Sydney capital of the colony of New South Wales Did you notice the date That's right it's exactly twenty years since the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Botany Bay Look here comes a military parade marching down the road to Government House Ah don't the soldiers look resplendent in their red coats moving in time to the stirring strains of the Grenadiers March fixed bayonets glinting in the evening sunlight
People have gathered to see what is going on We can see a few children marching alongside the soldiers and a couple of dogs wheeling around in excited circles But wait who is that Aboriginal man leaning against a tree observing these events Could it be Bennelong once a friend of the first governor Arthur Phillip and ambassador for his people He's no longer welcome at Government House but he still comes into town every so often What is he thinking The soldiers march on and sweep through the front gates of Government House
